Hair treatment device

ABSTRACT

A hair treatment device and method, for use in changing the appearance of hair. The device comprises a compressible hair roller including a roller body and a base including ends with cradles which receives the roller body. The combination of the roller body and base, together with the respective construction, results in a more natural looking and feeling “perm”.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention is directed to hair treatment devices, andmore particularly pertains to a new and improved device for changing theappearance of an individual's scalp hair.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Individuals are known to change the appearance of their hair. Themost effective way to achieve a long-lasting change in the appearance ofone's hair is through the application of a “permanent”, also known as a“perm.” A permanent is a hair treatment that produces a long-lastinghair wave or hair straightening by mechanical and/or chemical means.

[0003] Conventionally, when an individual is receiving a permanent,their hair is first sectioned and wrapped around individual cylindricalrollers. The individual roller, beginning at the unattached end of thehair, is wound up the entire length of a section of hair until theroller contacts the scalp. The wrapped hair is then secured by bandsextending from one end of the roller to the other. To hold the roller inplace, a small thin piece of plastic known as a pick is inserted betweenthe scalp and the roller so that the roller tightly rests directly onthe individual's scalp.

[0004] When chemicals are applied to the hair during the permanentprocess the hair swells and expands, pressing the hair tightly againstthe bands and directly onto the individual's scalp. This expansioncauses tension on the roots which in turn causes that section of thehair close to the scalp to catch, split, and break, creating undesirablefrizzing and kinking of the hair. Moreover, the pick itself sometimesdamages the hair as well as causes discomfort to the wearer. Finally,because the roller is pressed tightly against the scalp, it is almostimpossible to completely treat the full length of the wrapped hair.Consequently, the desired effect does not begin from the hair roots butfollows a flat impression where the rod was previously positioned.

[0005] There are a number of disadvantages in using presently availablerollers or similar hair treatment devices. One example of such a hairtreatment device is taught by U.S. Pat. No. 2,287,335, which issued toYven on Jun. 23, 1942. This patent discloses a protector unitincorporating a base and separable hair engaging member constructed offoldable materials. There the base and engaging members are “built” foreach use and, preferably disposed of immediately upon each use.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 2,603,225, which issued to Buchanan on Jul. 15,1952, discloses a hair treatment device constructed as a central curlingrod provided with a series of thin cylindrical shells. The shells areformed from semi-cylindrical halves made of material capable of heatconductivity. This allows the device to control the distribution of heatwithin each curling unit. Yet such curlers, involving the use of metaland heat conductive parts, absorb heat under a hair dryer and frequentlyresult in severe discomfort to the wearer, even burning the scalp.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 2,722,222 which issued to Whaley on Nov. 1, 1955,discloses a hair treatment device that protects the scalp by a scalpprotector-rod securing device. The protector device is formed fromseveral layers of insulator and water proof materials constructed sothat hair can be threaded between the adjacent layers. In addition tothe complicated scalp protector, the device requires a process whereinthe hair is chemically treated before it is mechanically rolled.

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 4,327,754, which issued to Hildreth on May 4, 1982,discloses a contoured comb or sectioning tool which is used to separatea section of hair to be rolled. The comb functions as a stand-off sothat the roller does not contact the scalp. In order to utilize thesectioning comb as a stand-off for the rollers, it is necessary to havespecial rollers which are segmented and which bend to conform to thecontour of the comb and lock to the comb.

[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 4,898,194, which issued to Einspahr on Feb. 6,1990, discloses a hair waving device made of thin, flexible plastic. Theuse of spring clips, metal or otherwise, for securing the curler afterrolling the hair creates a flat area on the curl which is sometimesdifficult to cover up with certain hair styles.

[0010] While the above described references teach devices undoubtedlysuited for their intended usage, none of those devices teach a hairtreatment device that reduces or eliminates hair breakage at the scalp,provides a compressible roller, presents the roller from contacting thescalp, or eliminates the roller compression mark at the scalp.Additionally, none of the aforesaid devices prevent undesirable frizzingor kinking. Although the art is relatively crowded with respect tovarious types of hair treatment devices, there is a continuing unmetneed for and interest in solving the problems remaining in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The present invention relates to improvements in hair treatmentdevices. In particular, the present invention solves many of the knownproblems in the art by providing a compressible hair roller and a meansfor keeping the hair roller from contacting the wearer's scalp duringthe hair treatment process.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the hairroller is tubular and notched at opposite ends, and a base implement isconfigured to correspond in size to the length and circumference of hairroller. The hair roller body is made of a material that is malleable sothat, when heat is applied, either chemically or conductively by aheating means, the roller body gently expands thereby applying pressureto the hair. Alternatively, the outside of the roller is malleable whilethe inside of the roller may contain a mechanism that prevents theroller from collapsing on itself. Either embodiment of the hair rolleris used with a base implement. The base has two ends and each end has acradle for receiving a notch of the roller. The ends are connected toeach other via a straight or curved support rod. In addition, thesupport rod can include a short support arm.

[0013] In practice, hair is sectioned and wrapped around the roller bodyin a conventional fashion, and then the hair roller is placed on thebase implement. More specifically, the notches of the roller are set inthe cradles of the base ends, respectively. A permanent treatmentsolution is next applied to the hair.

[0014] The present invention overcomes the problems which still exist inthe prior art by providing a hair treatment device comprising a hairroller including a compressible roller body, a first notch and a secondnotch; a base implement including a first end and a second end whereinboth the first and second ends each include a cradle for receiving thenotches; and, a support rod connecting the first end and the second end.Further, the present invention overcomes the problems that still existin the prior art by providing a method of changing the appearance ofone's hair by using a hair treatment device comprising a hair rollerincluding a compressible roller body, a first notch and a second notch;a base implement including a first end and a second end wherein bothfirst and second ends each include a cradle for receiving said notches;and, a support rod connecting the first end and the second end.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention.

[0016]FIG. 2 is a side view of an embodiment of a hair roller of thepresent invention.

[0017]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a hairroller of the present invention.

[0018]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a hair rollerbase of the present invention.

[0019]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a hairroller base of the present invention.

[0020]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a hairroller base of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] Referring now in more detail to the drawings, wherein likenumerals refer to like parts throughout the various views, FIG. 1 is aperspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention 10.

[0022]FIG. 2 depicts a hair roller 11 according to one embodiment of thepresent invention. The hair roller 11 includes a tubular roller body 12,around which hair is wrapped. It will be understood by those skilled inthe art that the roller body 12 is not limited to a generally circulartubular cross-section, but may be, by way of example and not limitation,square, hexagonal, or octagonal cross-section, the cross-section beingmerely a design choice. The hair roller 11 also includes notches 13formed by axial portions of reduced diameter at ends of the roller body11 and located between the body and the ends 14. The exteriorcircumference of the hair roller 11 may vary, the actual dimension beingmerely a design choice. The base implement 15, 16, 17 (best shown inFIG. 4, FIG. 5, and FIG. 6, respectively) is configured to correspond insize to the length and circumference of hair roller 11.

[0023] In a preferred embodiment, the roller body 12 is made of amaterial that is malleable so that, when heat is applied, eitherchemically or conductively by a heating means, the roller body 12 gentlyexpands, thereby applying pressure to the hair. At the same time, thehair shaft is kept under tension by allowing the hair being permed tosettle into the compressible roller body 12. This may be accomplished inseveral ways. By way of example and not limitation, a compressible body12 may be an open cell plastic or a hollow core roller 11. The materialfor the hair roller 11 may be selected such that when heat is applied,the hair roller body 12 will expand. The roller body 12 is preferablymade from an open celled, lightweight, heat insulating material so thatthe air inside, when heated, causes expansion. Additionally, thematerials used for the axial portion that defines the notches 13 andends 14 may be the same or different than hair roller body 12.

[0024] In an alternative embodiment of the hair roller 11, if theinterior of the roller 11 is hollow, the interior of the roller body 12may contain a mechanism that prevents the roller body 12 from collapsingon itself. For example, as seen in FIG. 3, the hair roller body 12 couldcontain a coil 21 or similar means designed to maintain the shape of theroller body. The coil 21 could be made in any shape and out of anymaterial that allows the roller body to press outwardly or compress inresponse to heat and tension.

[0025] Either embodiment of the hair roller 11 is used with a baseimplement 15, 16, 17 as best shown in FIG. 4, FIG. 5, and FIG. 6,respectively. The base implement prevents the roller body 11 from beingpressed against the scalp during application of the permanent, that is,during application and removal of the chemical solutions to the hairduring the process of applying a perm, such solutions and methods ofapplying and removing are well known by those skilled in the art. Forthe purpose of the present discussion, only base 15 is referenced butthat which is taught with regard to base 15 is applicable to bases 16and 17. The base 15, as shown in FIG. 4 has two ends 30. Each end 30 hasa cradle 34 for receiving a notch 13 of the roller 11. At the edgeopposite the cradle 34, the end 30 may have a cut out shoulder 36. Thecut out shoulder 36 reduces the surface area of the ends 30, therebyreducing contact with the scalp. In this embodiment, the base 15 issupported by feet 38 which contact the scalp. Yet the ends 30 do notrequire a shoulder 36, as illustrated by the flat bottomed edge 48 bestshown in FIG. 6.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 4, and FIG. 5, the ends 30 are connectedto each other via a straight support rod 32. The straight support rodallows the hair to be lifted from the scalp and fully treated with apermanent solution. Because of the curved shape of an individual's head,the hair is treated between ⅛ and 1 inch from the root. Being able tofully treat the entire length of the hair, the hair appears “lifted”from the scalp, giving the hair more overall body and a better overalleffect.

[0027] In the alternative, as best shown in FIG. 6, the support rod 42may be curved or arched. The curved support rod contours the naturalshape on an individual's scalp. Thus the hair gets treated more evenly,about ⅛ inch from the root. After the treatment, the hair appears to benaturally curly because the curls all begin evenly close to the root.The support rod 32 or support rod 42 may be placed along various edgesof the ends. Another option is to place the support rod 32 or supportrod 42 in the middle of the ends, as represented by support rod 32 inFIG. 5. The position of the rod is chosen to result in as little contactwith the roller body 12 as possible. In addition, the support rod 32 orsupport rod 42 can have a short support arm 40, as seen in FIG. 6, tohold the roller body 12 from resting on the scalp.

[0028] In practice, hair is sectioned and wrapped around the roller body12 in a conventional fashion. Then the hair roller 11 is placed on thebase implement 15. More specifically, the notches 13 are set in thecradle 34 of the base ends 30, as best shown in FIG. 1. A permanenttreatment solution is next applied to the hair. Because the hair roller11 sits above the scalp, all portions of the hair may be evenly treatedwith the permanent solution. When treated with the permanent solution,the hair swells and expands. Upon application of a neutralizer the haircontracts, opposed by the roller body. Because the roller body is madeof a malleable, lightweight material, the hair is not tightened around aconventional rigid roller or forced against bands and/or the scalp.Thus, the hair is not stressed while contracting. Accordingly, hairbreakage and root damage do not occur, resulting in a more naturallooking perm. The treatment of the hair is then continued and concludedaccording to conventional practice.

[0029] The foregoing is illustrative of the principles of the presentinvention. Obvious modifications and changes will readily occur to thoseskilled in the art, thus it is not desired to limit the presentinvention to the exact construction and operation shown and described,and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may beresorted to, falling within the scope of the claims.

I claim:
 1. A hair treatment device comprising: a hair roller includinga compressible roller body, a first notch and a second notch; a baseimplement including a first end and a second end wherein both said firstand second ends each include a cradle for receiving said notches; and, asupport rod connecting said first end and said second end.
 2. The hairroller of claim 1, wherein said roller body is made of a lightweight,heat insulating material.
 3. The hair roller of claim 1, wherein theinside of said roller body contains a supporting structure.
 4. The baseimplement of claim 1, wherein said first end and said second end eachinclude a cut-out shoulder.
 5. The base implement of claim 1, whereinsaid support rod includes a support arm.
 6. A base implement comprising:a first end and a second end, wherein both said first and second endseach include a cradle; and, a support rod connecting said first end andsaid second end.
 7. The base implement of claim 6, wherein said firstend and said second end each include a cut-out shoulder.
 8. The baseimplement of claim 6, wherein said support rod includes a support arm.9. A method of changing the appearance of one's hair comprising:wrapping a tress of hair around a compressible roller body of a hairroller, wherein said hair roller includes a first notch and a secondnotch; resting a base implement on a wearer's scalp, wherein said baseimplement includes a first end and a second end wherein both first andsecond ends each include a first and second cradle, respectively;engaging said hair roller and said base implement by inserting saidfirst and second notch into said first and second cradle, respectively;applying solutions to the hair; and, removing said tress of hair fromsaid hair roller.
 10. The method of claim 9 wherein heat is applied tosaid tress of hair.
 11. The method of claim 10 wherein said solutionsare removed from said hair.